Imagine this: You've binge-watched every Netflix show, and attempted every dubious recipe online, but none come close to satisfying those cravings, COVID-19 came along and changed everything. Whether we liked it or not, it turned us all into home cooks. In the middle of all this food chaos, Chitramay stood out as the unknown hero who bravely dealt with the chaos of quarantine cravings. Ms.Mayura Abhisheki and Chitra Kelkar, who are both involved in this food change, are not only amazing cooks but also a source of inspiration for us all. Chitramay emerged as proof of how the kitchen can change things.

This brand is more than just a culinary venture; it's a celebration of taste, health, and craftsmanship. "Healthy Bites: Health, Hygiene and Taste." is Chitramay's motto, and they don't just serve food there; they create moments.

From humble origins to culinary acclaim:

The idea for Chitramay came from the need for more healthy, tasty and hygienic food during lockdowns. The secret to our healthy recipes is the high-grade ingredients used in our food. Chitramay Products prides itself in being tried and tasted across the nation along with maintaining the highest level of hygiene and cleanliness, the products are 100% trustworthy and served without any discrimination between family and customers. The brand started with a small order of 25 Pani Puris and Shev Puris from Mayura's kitchen at home stemming from a passion for chaat. They had no idea that this small beginning would turn into a journey of cooking for groups of over 250 people. Their delicious food now gets to more people thanks to a partially automated kitchen in Mangeshi.

Pani puris

Making a History in Food:

Chitramay's purpose is simple but effective: convey joy through delightful bites. Their goal isn’t just to please people's taste buds in Mumbai, Pune, and Goa. Chirtramay wants to take it one step further and spread its plate of love worldwide. Focusing on quality, cleanliness, and the personal touch that comes with fresh treats is what makes this brand stand out. They stand out in the food scene because every bite reveals a tale of love and skill.

For many people, Chitramay's laddoos represent a delightful culinary experience that captures the spirit of homegrown sweetness and tradition. They’ve come up with a unique concept of ‘Choco Ragi Bites’ which are moulded in cookie shapes, combining traditional ragi with a modern twist by adding chocolate flavour to ensure that kids happily eat ragi.

A Taste From The Menu:

Experience the rich and decadent taste of quality dry fruits, pure ghee and organic jaggery added to traditional laddoos. Chitramay's journey with ladoos is more than just a culinary venture; it's a dynamic exploration of taste and tradition.

Experience the richness of the Millet ladoos, which were launched in honour of the World Millet Year, demonstrating their unwavering dedication to being ahead of trends in the food industry.

For the health-conscious, try the never-before-seen addition of jowar and bajra, which not only complements your diet but also delights your palate with the wonderful flavour of these classic grains.

rabris

Having grown from their humble beginnings of 20 kgs during the inaugural Chaturthi, they can now easily handle orders above 500 kg, which is a testament to both the rising demand and the support of their expanding customer base. The distinctive tastes, freshness, and purity of Chitramay's ladoos are their trademarks.

Chitramay's journey with ladoos has been one for the books, they specialize in a variety of ladoos such as Moong, Ragi, Paushtik, Dates & dryfruits. Their special New Mom's ladoo hamper is well known for new mom’s which aid in post delivery healing and lactation. It consists of Dink ladoos, Aliv ladoos made with superfoods like halim seeds, methi ladoos & bajra ladoos etc. Along with ladoos, Chitramay also specializes in a number of unique desserts such as Sitaphal Rabadi, Strawberry Firni, Mango Mastani etc

Bringing new ideas to every bite:

Chitramay's success demonstrates their capacity for innovation and adaptation. Their culinary talent found a platform on social media, where a friend with a background in the media industry helped them establish a significant online presence. Though the initial promotion of Chitramay was through word of mouth, the presence on social media gave the business a professional image, and also helped it market new products to its repeat and new costumers. Furthermore, the idea for the assorted ladoo box also came through another set of friends with a background in MBA. The assorted ladoo boxes opened up horizons for the business as they were being used as corporate gift hampers, in the form of return gifts for wedding and thread ceremonies, as well as for baby showers. Additionally, Chitramay tried to stay relevant in today’s culinary competition by constantly keeping in touch their customers and by accepting their feedback for further improvements. Another offering from Chitramay, the Faral box assortment is also in high demand during Diwali and Chaturthi time.

Learning from mistakes and turning them into milestones:

Chitramay has learned a lot along the way. One of the major problems during the pandemic's peak was the scarcity of essential resources. Since the Founders lived in Mangeshi, they frequently had to travel to Ponda or Panjim to obtain important ingredients.

Being located in a popular tourist destination like Goa also made it difficult for a small business to get qualified workers as everyone is engaged in the tourism industry. Therefore, efficient business scaling has been a challenge due to the high expense of recruiting and maintaining a proficient workers. During the second wave of COVID, they sold over 150 kg of ladoos in less than a month, demonstrating the popularity of their product and the necessity for a machine to keep up with demand. Sensing this necessity, the founders immediately leapt into action. Before Chaturthi, Chitramay strategically decided to purchase a machine in response to market demand and the requirement for efficiency. This choice changed everything because it greatly increased production capacity. Chitramay's orders increased from a mere 20 kgs on their first Chaturthi to 500 kgs and more, demonstrating the benefits of integrating technology into their business processes and the strategic thinking on the Founders’ part.

Before Chaturthi, Mayura strategically decided to purchase a machine in response to market demand and the requirement for efficiency. This choice changed everything because it greatly increased production capacity. Chitramay's orders increased from a mere 20 kgs on their first Chaturthi to 500 kgs and more, demonstrating the benefits of integrating technology into their business processes and the strategic thinking on the Founders’ part.

_{(Ms.Chitra Kelkar and Mayura Abhisheki)}

Savouring The Victory

A simple desire to do something important led to the start of the journey. Mayura was inspired by home-based food delivery services to share her love of good vegetarian food with the people in their neighbourhood.

She missed the delicious vegetarian food she grew up with in Pune, where she was born and raised. Though Goa had plenty of delicious seafood, there weren't many options for vegetarians. Her desire for real vegetarian chaat and sweets drove her to make something unique.

Chaat

While the families of Chitramy founders had some initial concerns regarding the demand for vegetarian food in Goa, they however still decided to support these women. Furthermore, Chitramay took part in an exhibition within six months, which led to a friendly battle with a nearby chaat stand. As a challenge, Mayura's husband wanted to see if people would like their goods more than the nearby chaat stand. To their astonishment and joy, the crowd overwhelmingly chose Chitramay's chaat, resulting in a triumphant moment and the complete withdrawal of earlier reservations. Chitramay's regular customers who had experienced their items' quality became exhibition champions, drawing more customers to their stand. The strong response confirmed Mayura's business confidence and convinced her family that their company was taking off.

The venture started with PONDA businesswomen group and then WEBN helped grow the business across Goa.

Chitramay stands where it is, solely due to the collective efforts of the entire team.

Mayura's story shows the power of enthusiasm, determination, and a strong belief in one's ideas.

To Contact:

To learn more about Chitramay’s Culinary Delights, visit their social media handles-

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/_chitramay_?igshid=MzMyNGUyNmU2YQ%3D%3D

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/mayura.abhisheki.7?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Forging a Global Culinary Legacy:

When Chitramay thinks about the future, they see things that go beyond borders. The founders want to add more Indian-themed flavours, like traditional Ladoos and high-end sweets. Chitramay wants to be a well-known brand all over the world that sells a wide range of healthy food with roots in different Indian cultures.

laddoos

Chitramay's journey is a celebration of hard work, dedication, and putting the customer first. From a simple kitchen in their home to goals on a global scale, Ms Mayura Abhisheki and Chitra Kelkar have built a brand that represents the spirit of love and care sprinkled onto a plate of taste and health.